What's Up, Up Here? Dec. 28-Jan. 3; News snippets from here and there

Left: Chris Nelson with his daughter Maddy Nelson posing with the year's "World's Largest Christmas Stocking." Right: Chris Nelson with his sister Natalie Nelson in 1987 posing with their "World's Largest Christmas Stocking." Photos/Submitted.

That was nasty business at Alpine Meadows last week when longtime ski patroller Bill Foster, 53, a veteran member of the Alpine ski patrol team was killed in an avalanche. He died on Christmas Day at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno after being caught in an intentionally triggered slide the day before. Our advice: Don’t ever, ever, ever take the patrollers for granted. Bill had logged 28 years at Alpine. …

Among great Mammoth holiday traditions is “The World’s Largest Christmas Stocking,” taken home from the DIY Home Center this year by Felicity Nelson, age 4, and sib Maddy, age 2. Must run in the family. In 1987, a quarter of a century past, their father, Chris Nelson and aunt, Natalie Nelson won the World’s Largest Christmas stocking when they were 8 and 10, respectively. Sales Manager Jessica Lehrfeld and the whole DIY staff (and us, too) say “Way To Go, Nelsons!” …

We snuggled up to a roaring fire in the woodstove Wednesday night to catch an evening of Barbara Stanwyck westerns on Turner Classic Movies. For those who don’t know, when the great noir actress died in 1990, at the age of 82, she asked her ashes be scattered in Lone Pine. So next time you’re hiking, running or four-wheeling that-a-way, be sure to say hi to Barbara. …

Even as he was haggling with the Fiscal Cliff Stuff, the Prez-O on Dec. 20 signed into law the “Bridgeport Indian Colony Land Trust, Health, and Economic Development Act of 2012,” which transfers approximately 39 acres of federal land in Mono County, currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management, into trust status for the benefit of the Bridgeport Indian Colony. ...

Just sayin,’ but this year’s Night of Lights at Canyon Lodge was one of the most ethereal, lovely fireworks shows we’ve ever seen, what with a backdrop of snow coming down in blankets of white, accompanied by thunderous, muted (by the snow) booms. …

Wildlife heads-up: apparently lots of visitors and locals alike just assume all the bears are safely in den for the winter, but not so. Our pal and colleague Tiffany Tyree spotted big bear paws on her sidewalk yesterday (Thursday), serving as a reminder that a bear won’t den up until people quit feeding them. Did EVERYONE forget to lock their (overflowing) dumpsters this week, or what? …

From the Not-So-Clear-on-the-Concept Dept., the gang at the Chevron gets a big bang this time of year by all those front-wheel drive SoCal vehicles with chains on their rear tires. Holiday tradition and alla that. …

Big poetry to-do coming up Jan. 5 at the Edison Theatre when the countywide “Poetry Out Loud” competition revs up. Students from Coleville High School, Lee Vining High School, and Mammoth Lakes High School, all coached by their respective teachers and Eva Poole-Gilson, local poet, are set to rev it up, beginning at 7 p.m. …

Speaking of Big To-Do’s, this past month’s “Island Extravaganza” fundraiser at Canyon Lodge was a big success, for some more than others. Bob and Liz Burke, great supporters of Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra, won the big prize—a trip to Hawaii; Teri Stehlik won the Gator Swamp prize—a trip to the Channel Islands. …

Meanwhile, on the Birthday Beat, here’s to Bonnie Colgan, Steve Black, Anita Hatter, Lonnie Pratt Newbry, Lily Michelon Rosenthal and, lest we ferget, Rusty Gregory, along with all the other New Year’s Capricorns—you know who you are. …

The popular Fossil Discovery Center in Chowchilla, which has been open since October 2010, is unveiling the latest and largest of its new exhibits tomorrow: the body of an entire Colombian Mammoth that will now greet visitors as they enter the museum. Standing at approximately 13 feet tall, it’s an impressive greeting, particularly those of us who have a soft spot for all-things-Mammoth.